Bradley, fresh from leading the United States to the second round at the World Cup finals, is yet to commit his future to the national side.

He has been installed as the Bookies' favourite to replace O'Neill, who quit the club on Monday just five days before the start of the new season. With American Randy Lerner holding the purse strings at Villa Park, Bradley was immediately linked with the vacant post.

The United States face Brazil in an international friendly this week, after which Bradley is expected to sit down and thrash out his future with his contract due to run out in December.

"I have said over and over as well that I am always excited about new and different challenges. Certainly coaching in Europe at some point is something that I would love to do," Bradley said. "At the same time, I also consider it a challenge when you finish one [World Cup] cycle and begin the process of working on another one.

"From the time one World Cup ends, you begin to go through the process of assessing where you are. From the end of the World Cup, I have said the same thing: There would be a period when both sides would assess. I think that's normal.

"I had a few discussions with U.S. Soccer. This fixture date comes at a tricky time and so we agreed it was most important to get on and prepare for this date and then we would have some discussions following this game.

"That's where it stands. Other than that, there are different kinds of speculation on different days, so there is not much to be said until some more discussions take place."

Sven-Goran Eriksson would also be interested in the job, according to sources close to the former England coach: "Of course, Sven would be interested in this job. He has always said that he would like to go back into the Premier League. It is a big target for him.''

Eriksson's representative, Athole Still, insisted there has not been any
approach from Villa for the Swede, who was in charge of the Ivory Coast during
the recent World Cup finals.

Still said: "There has been no contact from Aston
Villa. Sven gets associated with a lot of big jobs but, as we speak, there has
been no contact from Aston Villa.''